At Puma, Chef Javier Bardauil explores contemporary Latin cuisine through a lens that blends food with music, art, and creative exchange, presenting a modern perspective that reflects the diversity, evolution, and vibrancy of Latin culture today. Born from Argentine parrilla tradition and shaped by the energy of Detroit, Puma is where open flame meets impeccable vibes. A modern parrilla, grounded in heritage, alive in Detroit.
OPEN SINCE MAY 2024, PUMA was named the "Best New Restaurant" by the Detroit Free Press and awarded "Best Vibes" by eater detroit.
JAVIER BARDAUIL
Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Chef Javier Bardauil brought the soul of Argentina to Detroit after a career cooking across continents. He began his culinary training at the Argentine Gastronomy Institute and honed his skills further at the prestigious Lenôtre School in Paris. His career blossomed under the mentorship of the legendary Argentine chef Francis Mallmann at Patagonia Sur, where Bardauil mastered the art of cooking with open flames.
After cooking in Spain, France, and Italy, he returned to Argentina to serve as Culinary Director of Happening, one of Buenos Aires’ most traditional steakhouses. In 2019, Bardauil and his family moved to Detroit, where he opened BARDA in 2021. Barda was a honored by the James Beard Awards as a finalist for Best New Restaurant. In 2024, Bardauil opened PUMA — a more casual spot across the street inspired by South American street food and nightlife vibes — earning him a James Beard Award semifinalist nod in the Best Chef: Great Lakes category two years in a row. BUENOS AIRES > FRANCE > SPAIN > ITALY > BUENOS AIRES > DETROIT — BIRTH OF BARDA & PUMA
